The Higher Education Pact in Germany: A Comprehensive Funding Initiative that Fostered Cooperation and Stability

The Higher Education Pact in Germany, a funding program that ran from 2007 to 2020, was widely praised for its positive impact on student numbers and the stability of the higher education system. The Wissenschaftsrat, a government advisory council on science and humanities, recognized the pact as the most comprehensive funding initiative for the German higher education system to date.

The scheme was designed to address the challenges faced by the higher education system due to numerous reforms. By emphasizing cooperation over competition, it represented a positive shift in approach. This focus on cooperation helped strengthen the system’s ability to adapt and change.

Wolfgang Wick, chair of the Wissenschaftsrat, highlighted the importance of the pact in maintaining stability in higher education and increasing student numbers. Overall, the Higher Education Pact in Germany was viewed as a successful initiative that had a positive impact on Germany’s higher education landscape.